Parliamentary questions
Dr Richard Simpson
2,702 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the information standards applied in NHSScotland for IT are the same as those of the NHS Information Standards Board in England.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Some of the information standards in use in Scotland are the same as those promoted by the NHS Information Standards Board in England. These include ones widely recognised in the health sector such as the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (…
22 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37443 by Shona Robison on 22 November 2010, how many breaches of the statutory instruments arising from Article 81 of European Directive 2001/83 or relevant ethical guidance have (a) been reported and (b) resulted in action against a supplier, pharma…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Article 81 of European Directive 2001/83 requires the maintenance of appropriate and continued supply of medicinal products by marketing authorisation holders and distributors so that the needs of patients are met. Article 81 has been implemented into UK medi…
20 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37464 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, how the £2,500,000 allocated in 2010-11 to smoke-free laws is being spent.
Answer · Shona Robison: The monies for 2010-11, which are in local authorities'' baselines, allow local authorities to put in place support to enforce the smoke-free legislation and is specifically put towards the cost of enforcement officers who ensure compliance with the law. Thes…
20 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37439 by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010, what evaluation has made of the effectiveness of the expenditure on smoking cessation in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.
Answer · Shona Robison: The effectiveness of NHSScotland smoking cessation services is monitored via statistics published annually by ISD Scotland. There were a total of 69,882 quit attempts made/quit dates set in 2009. This compares with 51,621 quit attempts during the previous cal…
20 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to answer to question S3W-38043 by Shona Robison on 16 December 2010, whether NHS Tayside’s Quit 4 U smoking cessation pilot project was evaluated and, if so, whether it was regarded as a success and, if so, for what reason funding was not continued.
Answer · Shona Robison: The evaluation of NHS Tayside''s Quit 4 U project is still ongoing and a final report is due in spring 2012. Agreement was reached with the Scottish Government, NHS Health Scotland and NHS Tayside to fund Quit 4 U as a national pilot project with robust evalu…
20 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38043 by Shona Robison on 16 December 2010, what the annual cost was of NHS Tayside’s Quit 4 U smoking cessation pilot project.
Answer · Shona Robison: The annual cost of NHS Tayside''s Quit 4 U pilot project is as follows:</b></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=199 valign=top > <p > </p> </td> <td width=84 valign=top > <p >2008-09</p> </td>…
17 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17106 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 October 2008, whether it will provide an update on the information provided
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is clear evidence of the benefits from ensuring that people who have had a stroke are admitted to a stroke unit as quickly as possible. In revising its clinical standards for stroke service in June 2009 to bring them into line with the new SIGN (Scottis…
17 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18514 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 December 2008, how many prescriptions for antibiotics were issued in 2008-09.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The number of prescribed items for antibiotics for the year ended 31 March 2009 was 4,434,236. This relates to items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors but does not include medicines dispensed in hospitals or hospital-b…
17 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15307 by Kenny MacAskill on 1 August 2008, whether it will provide an update on the information provided
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</b></p> <p >The information requested is shown in the following table.</p> <p >Admissions of Persons Under 16 to Scottish Prison-Young Offenders…
17 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Category A calls to the Scottish Ambulance Service in Glasgow, or the smallest area including the city for which calls are recorded, were made in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 in respect of drug overdoses due to heroin or other opiates (i) alone or (ii) in combination with other substanc…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has provided the following tables, which set out all overdose/poisoning related calls for Glasgow (postcode sectors G1 to G5).</p> <p >The information is recorded by dispatch code so the SAS is unable to provide definitiv…
17 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12538 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 April 2008, how it will undertake workforce planning in relation to the new HEAT target on access to talking therapies.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards working with their statutory and voluntary partners, have primary responsibility for designing and delivering services to their local population. Psychological therapies will be delivered by different groups of staff including psychologists, nurses…
16 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been provided to each area data sharing partnership in each year since 2006-07, and will be provided in 2011-12
Answer · John Swinney: The funding allocations to support area data sharing partnerships is set out in the following table:</b></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=221 valign=top > <p align=center >Partnership</p> </td> <td width=81 valign…
16 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies for (a) consultants and (b) middle grade staff there were in NHS Lanarkshire in each of the last 12 quarters in (i) all specialties and (ii) accident and emergency departments, broken down by hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on staff within NHSScotland is held by Information Services Division (ISD) which collects a variety of information on staff in post across all NHS staff groups, including vacancy information. This data is published online by ISD as at 30 September…
16 Dec 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had with NHSScotland regarding its preparations for winter.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have discussed winter planning with the chairs of all NHSScotland boards at our monthly meetings. The NHSScotland Chief Executive has also held discussions with NHS board chief executives.</p> <p >The Scottish Government hosted a National Winter Planning C…
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what audits, inspection or monitoring are being undertaken of non-attendance of children for NHS appointments and what guidance has been issued to clinicians regarding transmitting information on such cases.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on did not attend (DNAs) rates is published each quarter by ISD Scotland on its Acute Activity website at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4150.html. The information in not broken by age group. Boards are expected to review, audit and monitor DNA ra…
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the recommendations of the Scottish Sleep Forum report on obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome that was published in September 2010.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38376 on 17 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busines…
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that people referred for obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome are seen within the 18-week maximum waiting time.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has made significant resources available to NHS boards, £250 million over the three years to 2010-11, to deliver the challenging 18 weeks referral to treatment time target by the end of this year.</b></p> <p >To ensure delivery of the…
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the impact of obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38376 on 17 January 2011 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business…
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the report by the Scottish Sleep Forum that in 18,000 to 25,000 affected individuals the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome in (a) men aged 30 to 65 is usually 1-2% and (b) women 0.5-1%.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The report makes clear that obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome is a significant public health issue. In view of the link between the condition and obesity, it would be helpful for the report to be read in conjunction with our Obesity Roadmap, in orde…
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for assessment of more complex cases of obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome in (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The specific information requested is not available centrally.</b></p>
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37596 by Fergus Ewing on 17 November 2010, whether it has a timescale for announcing the funding that will be given to alcohol and drug partnerships in 2011-12.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will announce the funding that will be given to alcohol and drug partnerships in 2011-12 following parliamentary approval of the Budget Bill.</b></p>
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking steps to address health inequalities by boosting training in deprived practices in light of the report by Russell and Lough in the November 2010 edition of the British Journal of General Practice.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Tackling health inequalities remains a priority for the Scottish Government and features prominently in a range of initiatives and activities that impact on both primary and secondary care services. The Keep Well and Well North initiatives, which have primari…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) rail operators since 6 December 2010 regarding information available to the public on adjusted train timetables and, in particular, the accuracy of the live train departures internet system.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38259 on 13 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busines…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the review of the problems caused by snow in the winter of 2009-10, whether it sought reassurances from (a) Network Rail and (b) rail operators regarding the (i) points systems being secured for operation and (ii) capacity of the rolling stock to operate in low temperature cond…
Answer · Keith Brown: At regular rail performance meetings between Transport Scotland and the rail industry, seasonal preparedness is discussed. During 2010, ScotRail and Network Rail both outlined their plans for tackling the rolling stock and the points systems issues.</b></p>
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for the number of (a) trains breaking down and (b) points freezing in the central belt during the recent severe weather conditions.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish rail network and its rolling stock fleet experienced performance difficulties due to the sustained extreme low temperatures and high snowfall.</b></p>
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were, other than rail staff being unable to get to work, for the level of disruption to rail services in the central belt during the recent severe weather conditions.
Answer · Keith Brown: The recent severe winter weather resulted in the rail industry in Scotland adopting Network Rail''s Key Route strategy. This was introduced to ensure core passenger and critical freight routes on the rail network remained open with agreed amendments to the ti…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what emergency planning simulation exercises were undertaken by (a) transport planning authorities and (b) the NHS following the difficulties and disruption caused by bad weather in the winter of 2009-10.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Individual responder organisations are responsible for training and preparing their own staff, and therefore information on emergency planning simulation exercises carried out by transport planning authorities and the NHS is not held centrally.</b></p> <p >…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances women under 50 can obtain screening for breast cancer
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Women who have concerns either between their routine scheduled screening appointments or before they are invited to join the programme are advised to discuss these concerns with their GP.</p> <p >Women of any age who have concerns that they may be at risk du…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the premises currently occupied by Marine ScotlandScience in Almondbank following the expected closure of the facility in March 2011.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scientific work at Almondbank is being discontinued with an anticipated closure in March 2011. Options for the future status of the site are currently being developed.</p>
6 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde considers that the sites for assessing and treating those complex drug users at Gartnavel and Stobhill hospitals from September 2011 will provide the same quality of service as those currently in place.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has assured me that changes in the model of delivery will be achieved without any detriment to patients or staff or in relation to the settings in which services are delivered. As I would expect, the board is committed to providi…